Running his own race: Wayne Bauluck and the meaning of Black excellence

For Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks sprinter Wayne Bauluck (second year, Criminal Justice - Policing, Moose Jaw, Sask.), Black excellence isn’t about spotlight moments or social media campaigns. It’s about consistency, dignity and doing the work, even when no one is watching. 

Bauluck carved his own lane through discipline and confidence. He didn’t grow up in club systems or elite training environments. Before coming to Lethbridge, he competed exclusively in high school track, learning the sport through repetition, curiosity and a willingness to improve.

Excellence through effort

When asked what Black excellence means to him, Bauluck pauses before answering thoughtfully.

“To me, it’s performing even in the face of adversity,” he says. “It’s putting in the same amount of work, if not more, and doing it for yourself. Not to prove anything to anyone else.”

For Bauluck, excellence is rooted in preparation. As a sprinter, that means refining every phase of his race, from explosive starts in the blocks to speed endurance work that pushes him through the final metres. It also means embracing pressure.

“I like pressure,” he says. “It’s a driving factor. It reminds me what I’m working toward.”

That drive runs deeper than competition. With family roots in Mauritius and relatives who don’t always have the same opportunities he does, Bauluck carries a sense of responsibility with him.

“Most people back home don’t get the opportunity to be where I am,” he says. “So, when I’m here, I have to give it 100 per cent. You can’t leave anything on the table.”

The long way around

Bauluck believes excellence often looks different from the outside than it feels on the inside. He doesn’t see success as shortcuts or sudden recognition. He sees it as patience.

“I think Black athletes are known for taking the long way,” he says. “Putting in the work and still having your dignity at the end of it.”

That approach mirrors his own development in track. No club system. No early spotlight. Just steady progress. Excellence, in his view, isn’t about speed alone. It’s about integrity.

Taking up space

Throughout his athletic journey, Bauluck has often found himself as the only Black athlete in the room. Instead of shrinking, he leans into connection.

“I just talk,” he says. “If people have questions and it’s coming from a place of wanting to learn, I’ll answer. That’s how stereotypes get broken.”

For him, representation isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about authenticity. It’s about showing up fully, as a student, as an athlete, as a son and brother, and letting his work ethic define him.

As Black History Month highlights stories of resilience and achievement, Bauluck hopes the conversation extends beyond a single month.

“If something makes a difference, keep it going,” he says.

Lessons from home

If there is one person who shaped Bauluck’s understanding of excellence, it’s his mother.

“She taught me that hard work will eventually prevail,” he says. “Put your head down. Do it right. Don’t give people a reason to question your effort.”

That lesson has stayed with him since childhood. He remembers an elementary school race where he was the only Black runner on the track. While his siblings recorded the race from the stands, they overheard negative comments from the crowd — remarks about his skin colour, his body and his ability.

Bauluck didn’t hear any of it in the moment. He just ran, and he won.

Advice to his younger self

When asked what he would tell his younger self, Bauluck doesn’t hesitate.

“Invite the pressure,” he says. “Don’t shy away from it.”

For him, pressure isn’t something to escape. It’s confirmation that the moment matters. It’s a reminder of opportunity and responsibility, of family watching, of expectations rising and of the work already put in.

He would also remind himself that adversity is not a setback, it is preparation. That doubt from others does not define performance. That outside noise is temporary.

“Focus on what you can control,” he says. “Put your head down and work.”

That is the race Bauluck runs.